I didn't take any photos. One of our very dear friends has dementia and it is heartbreaking to see. We are very aware that his wife needs a break, so we have organised our weeks to try and give her some support! Over the last couple of months we have seen our friend change so much and quite rapidly. There are days when he attends different groups but when he is at home is is constantly asking to go out, which is where we step in!!
If anyone reading this can offer any advice it will be gratefully received!
As it happens I have some photos I haven't shared of our last morning in Prague.
I have been saving this for a while and I am joining Bleubeard and Elizabeth at T Stands For Tuesday.
I was very excited to see some of the samples I made for Crafty Individuals featured on the Hochanda shows yesterday and today!
Here is a book I made using an old board book belonging to my Granddaughter which I covered with old mop up papers and then decorated with the CI stamps.
I will be back to show you more samples soon!
Thanks for looking, Chris
21 comments:
Sorry about your friend with dementia, that is so hard for all concerned. Great photos from Prague, coffee and cake would be good right now. Lovely board book with great textures. Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie
I love your Board book Chris, can't wait to get my mitts on those bird stamps they are stunning and you have really done them proud
Joan x
I feel so bad for you and your friend. There are medications out there now that help slow the disease, but we still know so little about what causes it, only what it looks like after an autopsy.
That water feature fascinated me. I really liked all the photos you shared of Cafe Louvre. The art and the photos were fabulous, too.
Of course, I fell in love with that cake and T's look when you took the photo. If the coffee was great, Cafe Louvre certainly has my approval.
Your new book is SO charming. It's too bad you didn't have those stamps when we were in that round robin. Valerie would have been over the moon. I am truly impressed and can't wait to see more of what you made with these new stamps.
Thanks for sharing your final post from Prague, your trip to Cafe Louvre, your coffee, and your fabulous board book of birds with us for T this Tuesday, dear friend.
Sorry to read about your friends condition.
My aunt had dementia and I found no two days were the same, eventually she had to go into care. I don't think there is an easy reply to your question and I'm sure his wife appreciates the help you give to her.
They were super photos again today Chris and I loved the book you altered with the new CI images.
Happy T day wishes.
Yvonne xx
Dementia is so heartbreaking. You're a good friend to help out because it really is a draining thing to care for someone in such a deteriorating condition. I have worked with dementia and Alzheimer's patients, and the best general advice I can give is to distract them from what they are trying to do that they shouldn't. You can do this by bringing out and continually going over photo albums and engaging them in that. If they used to have a special hobby, talk about it. Easy puzzles can be a good distraction. Did this person play an instrument, dos he/she still have it? If it was something they enjoyed bring it out. What was a favorite tv program or subject? Try to engage them in conversation about their family, growing up, etc. I hope some of this is helpful to you and your friend. Thanks for sharing another wonderful place to eat, gosh it looks heavenly! Great little altered journal.
Happy T day!
Dear Chris, I have no words of advice - only that I think you are all offering wonderful support during a trying time. We recently lost a dear friend to Alzheimer's. The words of Glen Campbell's last song, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, gave me some solace. But it's a long hard road. Bless you and his family and friends for being there.
"I'm still here, but yet I'm gone.
I don't play guitar or sing my songs.
They never defined who I am.
The man that loves you 'til the end.
You're the last person I will love.
You're the last face I will recall.
And best of all, I'm not gonna miss you
Not gonna miss you.
I'm never gonna hold you like I did;
Or say I love you to the kids.
You're never gonna see it in my eyes
It's not gonna hurt me when you cry.
I'm never gonna know what you go through.
All the things I say or do ...
All the hurt and all the pain ...
One thing selfishly remains ...
I'm not gonna miss you."
I'm so glad you stopped by T today and hope some of the wonderful ladies here were able to offer some sage advice.
I watched the Hochanda TV show but didn't see your marvelous board bird book pages. ??? Your book is really special and lovely. The detail on the stamps are fabulous!
The Cafe Louvre is beautiful. That cake you and hubby shared makes my mouth water.
Happy T-day! Eileen xx
First what a lovely cafe and wow, Albert Einstein and Kafka had been there. The book you created is awesome. Sorry about your friend. My mother had dementia and it's kind of you to give his wife a much needed break. As Linda said, the best thing you can do is distract them. Never give a reality check such as if they ask about someone who has passed away a long time ago. My mother ended up in a nursing home. I found that some dementia patients like to hold a stuffed animal or a doll. I got my mother a doll and she was thrilled. Sometimes, I think she went back to when she was a young mother and taking care of me and my brother. My dad had Alzheimer's and he liked to sing so music was good a good choice for him. As someone else mentioned, no two dementia patients are alike. And sometimes strategies don't always work 2 days in a row. All the best.
I am going through the dementia things with my mom. I don't think she has Alzheimer's but her short term memory is gone. WE ended up moving her into an assisted living facility because she was living at home alone and all the stresses of that, plus being alone, really made things worse for her. Now that those worries (like bills, food, etc) are gone, she has leveled off a lot. I don't think that is really much for advice, but you are good to give your friend a break. It is very hard to deal with and I can't imagine doing it all the time. Boy your cake looks delicious. Yum. And birds are a great idea for a little art journal. Very pretty. Hope it was a wonderful T day Chris. Hugs-Erika
Sad to read about your friend but so good of you to offer help as it will mean so much.
Just love the Paris cafe pictures it all looks so opulent and very french. Yummy cake to share as well.
The idea of covering the old card book is brilliant and yours look amazing with every page a joy.
Hope T day went well for you
Love Chrissie x
I'm sorry to hear about your friend with Dementia. Unfortunately I don't have any advice to give. The Cafe Louvre looked great: I loved the decor. Your mini album is beautiful. Great artwork. Happy T-Day!
Sorry to hear about your friend!
SUch a bad thing this - two of our older female neighbours suffer it now and it is such a bad things to handle them. My first MIL passed away after 10 years of suffering this and we just were happy that her husband was such a good carer for her.
I am in LOVE with your board book - precious and I also love the fantastic impressions of Prague!
Happy belated T-Day dear Chris!
Big hugs,
Susi
Chris, I love that you used 'mop up' papers to make your book! The colors and the sweet birds make this a lovely early spring theme. It was also fun to see the pictures of Prague. That must have been a great trip. Thanks for sharing your book with us this month at Mini Album Makers!
~Heather
PS I hope I have kind friends like you should I ever have health needs like those of your friend. You set a great example for all of us. :)
I love the shape of the coffee cup, and the restaurant decor is delightful. What a treat!
Little board books make the perfect form for your beautiful art! What a great idea!
I'm sorry about your friend's health issues and wish I had suggestions to offer. If his doctor's office has a social worker they might have ideas. Or staff at the groups he attends might be able to suggest something.
Happy late T Day
How wonderful that you two can help out with your friend. Such a sad disease.
You go to the most interesting places! That dessert looked just sinful! ;)
Of course, I love your bird book. So pretty!
Have a great day! :)
I'm sorry to hear about your friend and his dementia. It's heartbreaking. As a nurse I have looked after many patients with dementia. As other people mentioned, distraction is always good. I also used to give people something to 'fiddle' with, like a bunch of keys. A good pass time was a large bag with some things in it, like pieces of underwear, a brush, a dolly, any item you can find. Many dementia patients want to 'go away' and I get them to pack their bag, which later they unpack again and it keeps them busy for a while.
They live in a different world. I used to try not to contradict them but go along with whatever scenario was in their head.Resulting in some bizarre conversations!
Every person is different so it is difficult to give you advice. But I am sure that his wife will be very thankful to you. Especially if you can keep an eye on him for a bit so she can do some personal things (like have a bath)
The cafe Louvre looks really nice. What a treat! Looks like the waiter's uniform has not changed over the years (looking at the poster)
The cake looks delicious.
Your mini album is beautiful!
Happy (belated) T-Day,
Lisca
It has to be one of the worst things, watching a friend or family member disappear into dementia. Cestina is a volunteer singer with one of the Alzheimer singing groups which exist around the country - for those with dementia and those caring for them. It's an incredible thing, as in the course of singing known and loved songs, many people with dementia seem to "return" for the duration of the song - and of course it's a social event too for the carers and partners. Drop me an email if you want to know more.
I love your bird album - what a stunning collection both of mop up papers and bird images - it's utterly charming.
Alison x
Your cake looks so yummy! Anything with creme filling makes my mouth water. And such a beautiful cafe. It looks like a wonderful atmosphere to eat.
A lovely bird album. I love the backgrounds. So much wonderful texture!!
Happy Belated Tea Day,
Kate
i wish i could give you advice concerning dementia, but i do not have any experiences.
nice to see more photos of prague and you little bird book is precious!
xox, johanna
It's so hard to see loved ones with dementia, I have found that there is some good advice on this website about dementia e.g. communication tips:
https://www.dementiauk.org
Also I have found that people with dementia may not remember you as their memory no longer allows it but they will still appreciate a smiling face and a chat about things that they remember. I love Prague too and that's a lovely cafe! Your bird journal is so pretty, each page design is beautiful 😀. Happy Friday and Weekend! J 😊 x
The travel is the best time for the people who have some leisure time. This will convert their leisure time into the quality time. This will make them able to have the joy of the things which they never had seen before. This will make their travel so much special.
Great use of those mop up papers and old board book. Thank you for sharing it with us at Mini Album Makers this month. Jennie
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